Antiferromagnetic structure in tetragonal CuMnAs thin films.

Authors :: Wadley, P.
Hills, V.
Shahedkhah, M. R.
Edmonds, K. W.
Campion, R. P.
Novák, V.
Ouladdiaf, B.
Khalyavin, D.
Langridge, S.
Saidl, V.
Nemec, P.
Rushforth, A. W.
Gallagher, B. L.
Dhesi, S. S.
Maccherozzi, F.
Železný, J.
Jungwirth, T.
Source :: Scientific Reports; 11/27/2015, p17079, 1p
Publication Year :: 2015
Abstract: Tetragonal CuMnAs is an antiferromagnetic material with favourable properties for applications in spintronics. Using a combination of neutron diffraction and x-ray magnetic linear dichroism, we determine the spin axis and magnetic structure in tetragonal CuMnAs, and reveal the presence of an interfacial uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. From the temperature-dependence of the neutron diffraction intensities, the Néel temperature is shown to be (480 ± 5) K. Ab initio calculations indicate a weak anisotropy in the (ab) plane for bulk crystals, with a large anisotropy energy barrier between in-plane and perpendicular-to-plane directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]